The UNESCO report cites mass coral bleaching events in 2016 -17 and 2020 as negatively affecting the value of the reef, stating insufficient progress has been made on achieving the key targets of the Reef 2050 long term sustainability plan.

Those are facts that the Climate Council’s Nicki Hutley says have already been confirmed by Australian authorities.

The minister is accusing the World Heritage Committee, currently chaired by China, as singling out Australia with political motivations.

Queensland MP Bob Katter is taking it a step further, accusing China of bullying tactics, calling on the federal government to push back.

 

On the other hand, Greenpeace CEO David Ritter says the UNESCO decision holds the federal government accountable for the reef’s destruction through its inaction on climate change.

 

Greens leader Adam Bandt says the government is trying to shift blame.